CIFP Council Meeting Highlights from Lausanne
The meeting focused on strengthening global cooperation, diversifying membership, enhancing governance, and reinforcing CIFP’s role in promoting the universal values of Fair Play.
Lausanne, October 13, 2025 – The International Fair Play Committee (CIFP) held its Council Meeting at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, bringing together members to reflect on a successful year and to outline priorities for the future. Highlights for 2025 included the UN designating May 19 as „World Fair Play Day”, CIFP’s elective congress, and the Award event at the Olympic Museum.
A Successful Award Ceremony
Newly elected President Sunil Sabharwal opened the session by commending the success of the Fair Play Award Ceremony that took place at the Olympic Museum the day before , which celebrated 3 outstanding – but very different - examples of ethical conduct and sportsmanship. The event was praised for its professionalism and engaging atmosphere, thanks to the collaboration with the IOC Olympic Museum and the participation of young athletes from Olympic Week. The ceremony exemplified CIFP’s commitment to honoring integrity in sport and its close alignment with the Olympic spirit.
Strengthening Collaboration with the Olympic Museum
The Council was honored by the attendance of Ms. Angelita Teo, Director of the Olympic Museum, who expressed her strong support for continued collaboration between the IOC and CIFP. Ms. Teo emphasized the importance of cultural and educational initiatives in promoting Olympism and highlighted her ambition to expand Olympic education programs to all 206 National Olympic Committees. She also outlined plans for the Museum’s forthcoming Get the Ball exhibition, which will include Fair Play stories as part of its focus on teamwork and shared values.
Ms. Teo underlined the significance of digital engagement and cross-marketing between Olympic stakeholders to reach broader audiences—particularly young people—through innovative and culturally relevant storytelling.
Welcoming New Faces and Diversifying Leadership
Ms. Hanna Wawrowska was elected Vice President of CIFP. In her remarks, she thanked the Council for its trust and reaffirmed her commitment to advancing gender equity and the active participation of women in sport governance. Her appointment reflects CIFP’s ongoing efforts to ensure diversity, inclusivity, and balanced representation across its leadership.
The meeting also marked the first step in the organization’s renewal. The President warmly welcomed Ms. Bianca Gama of Brazil as a new member. She is a university professor specializing in artificial intelligence and augmented reality, Ms. Gama brings valuable expertise in education, digital engagement, and youth development. She expressed her intention to build bridges between academia and Fair Play initiatives, and to foster research and innovation in partnership with universities and international institutions.
The President also welcomed Mr. Cheche Vidal, a new member with a background in technology and innovation, who expressed his enthusiasm for contributing to CIFP’s projects and for developing tools that can enhance Fair Play evaluation and engagement worldwide. Mr Vidal is also the author of a newly released book in 2 languages, „Fair Competition”, which is now part of the Olympic Library collection as well.
Expanding Media Outreach and Educational Impact
Members discussed the growing importance of digital communication and media outreach in promoting Fair Play values globally. Initiatives were proposed to strengthen CIFP’s social media presence, deepen collaboration with international media organizations, and share Fair Play stories in engaging, accessible formats. The Council emphasized that digital storytelling and educational outreach remain central to the organization’s mission of inspiring the next generation.
Future Priorities: Diversification, Globalization, and Governance Reform
Looking ahead, the Council identified key priorities for 2026 and beyond, including diversification of membership to ensure broader continental representation, governance reform to update CIFP’s bylaws, and continued efforts to expand international partnerships. New committees were established to oversee governance and awards management, ensuring greater transparency and accountability.
Plans were also discussed for future Fair Play Award and for CIFP’s participation in cultural programs surrounding the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games and the Dakar YOG.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to building a more inclusive and globally connected Fair Play movement, one that continues to uphold integrity, respect, and excellence as the cornerstones of sport and human development.
